National Maritime Museum

I'm going up to the National Maritime Museum (Greenwich, UK) again next week, although I just went yesterday, as I'm going to do a tour of the Painted Hall ceiling conservation work. I'll post some pictures later. More importantly; if anyone would like any particular photos of something, please let me know below and I'll see what I can do. They do allow photography inside, but not commercial photos. Please bear in mind that the lighting on some of the displays isn't conducive to clear pictures. Plus, there's a lot of reflective glass to shoot through first! I'll probably be going on Tuesday, so respond asap.

GM - There's a new Polar Worlds exhibit there which may have some Scott things on display. I had a quick whizz around the other day, but will hunt down what I can for you.

Tanker - I don't remember seeing any penny boats there, but I wasn't really looking for them last time, so I'll keep my eye out.

Michael - Yes, the 1737 Victory is definitely there and it's quite large too! Also the Bellona model is there, but both of them may be hard to photograph because of the glass and lighting.

Nino - Yes, the Tudor exhibit is great. There's a few models there and some impressive interactive displays. Quite dark in there, but I'll try my best.

There's not really that many models there. Most of the collection is up at Chatham Dockyard. From what I remember, they don't allow photography there and have staff patrolling the displays. There's a few down at Portsmouth Dockyard too, particularly of Victory, but again no photos allowed. The Wyllie model of Victory is there, but unfortunately it's displayed in cabinet that only allows a view from the top or starboard side. Shame, as the work on the stern is very impressive (and needed for research ).

A very gracious and appreciated offer. Would it be too much to ask for everything?! I would love to see any and all the ship displays personally and like GM, I would love to see the architectural restoration work professionally.

GM - There's a new Polar Worlds exhibit there which may have some Scott things on display. I had a quick whizz around the other day, but will hunt down what I can for you

Thank you sir. I appreciate the gesture. I recently read a book about the race for the Pole, Scott's fatal expedition and Amundsen's triumph.

Each alternating chapter was one team or the other, starting with their position. There are so many interesting details.

Amundsen and his men were egalitarian in driving the sleds. Scott maintained a heirarchy in terms of who walked first, what the division of labor was, and who camped with whom.

Amundsen had sleds and dogs. Scott had gasoline tractors, Mongolian ponies and the men dragged sleds.

Amundsen and his team ate seals while on the ice flow, entombed the remains of what they didn't eat for their return trip in easy to find cairns. They also ate at least one generation of puppies. They left with about 50 dogs, returned with just a few. Scott had rations, canned supplies.

When Amundsen got to the pole, there was obviously no way to locate with a compass, and the star shots were not accurate enough to pinpoint the location. So they circumnavigated the celestial pole. I forget the size of the circle, but it's length was considerable, say 100 km. Flags were placed all along the circumference. These Scott encountered when his team arrived.

Quite a few of the Scott expedition survived, as Scott sent many back including with the ponies.

Modeling subjects aren't too rare. Shackelton's Discovery is a nice Airfix model, as is Heller's Pourquoi Pas? Scott's ship on the last expedition, the Terra Nova, could probably be bashed for one of those.

My daughter gave me a bottle of Shackelton blended whiskey for Father's Day. It was recently emptied; a fine spirit.

In any case, I'd love to see what they have about either Scott or Shackelton.

Had to sprint round the museum as the usual car park was full and I was on a time limit, but here are the pictures. I've reduced the size to be more internet friendly as they're quite large. Here's the Museum.

I took loads of photos and have more from previous visits but I can't upload all of them, so these are just a selection. And as I said, these are reduced to load better on screen. Keen observers may have noticed the similarity between the painting 'The Immortality of Nelson' and the Nelson Pediment; same artist - Benjamin West.

I can't recommend visiting enough. Even friends/family I've been with who have no interest in maritime history at all have enjoyed themselves. The musuem is a really good size, just enough for a half-day visit giving you time to check out the Painted Hall, The Old Royal Naval College and squeeze in a vist to the Cutty Sark too. Plus, there's the Observatory, park and a lovely town to visit if you have the time (more like two days for all of that!).

Sorry the Victory 1737 model pictures didn't come out so well Michael. The lighting and glass in that room makes it difficult to photograph. If I'd had a tripod and an SLR, it wouldn't have a been a problem.......until I got kicked out of the museum.

Thanks Flint for all the great pictures of the NMM. Makes me wish I could visit this wonderful museum that houses some of the great collections of model ships of the Royal Navy.

Since a good photo of Balchin's VICTORY, built in 1737, could not be provided from the National Maritime Museum collection, here is a substitute picture.

Built in 1737, Balchin's VICTORY Was lost in a night storm off the Chaques Rocks in the Channel Islands on October 4, 1744 during the War of the Austrian Succession. Her commander, Sir John Balchin (1670-1744) had 60 years of a long and distinguished career in the Royal Navy until his death at age 74. After blocking Spanish ports, VICTORY tried to return home, but was overtaken by a fierce autumn night storm, where all perished. Critics claim that the hull high sides of the VICTORY acted as a sail to make the helpless ship uncontrollable in strong winds.

I didn't realise Michael that you're planning to model the 1737 Victory. I took more, larger pics of it, but tbh the best photos are the professional ones found online with the white background. I'm sure you've got those. Honestly, it was even difficult to see parts of it with the naked eye. Particularly the figurehead and stern carvings, because of the colour of them and the dim/reflected light.

The reason I ask is this , I have one in R.C. scale unfinished and I was working from Photos anyway . No set scale , but a lot of 1/48 stuff on board ! I never got past the powerpacks . Tanker - Builder

First off, I want to thank you for the amazing pictures, they are just beautiful and balanced. Next up, I’m jealous as all heck! I hate to be rushed in museums too, but I could spend literally days if not weeks in just that museum.